Better Care Better Jobs Act

12/31/2022, 5:26 AM

Better Care Better Jobs Act

This bill establishes programs and provides funds for state Medicaid programs to improve home- and community-based services (HCBS), such as home health care, personal care, case management, and rehabilitative services.

Specifically, the bill provides funds for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to award planning grants, develop quality measures, and provide technical assistance to states regarding specified HCBS improvements, particularly with respect to access, utilization, and the associated workforce. The bill also increases the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (i.e., federal matching rate) for HCBS in states that develop plans and meet specified benchmarks for improvements.

The bill also makes permanent (1) the Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration Program (a grant program to help states increase the use of HCBS for long-term care and decrease the use of institutional care), and (2) certain provisions regarding Medicaid eligibility that protect against spousal impoverishment for recipients of HCBS.

Congress
117

Number
S - 2210

Introduced on
2021-06-24

# Amendments
0

Sponsors
+5

Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

6/24/2021

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

Better Care Better Jobs Act

This bill establishes programs and provides funds for state Medicaid programs to improve home- and community-based services (HCBS), such as home health care, personal care, case management, and rehabilitative services.

Specifically, the bill provides funds for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to award planning grants, develop quality measures, and provide technical assistance to states regarding specified HCBS improvements, particularly with respect to access, utilization, and the associated workforce. The bill also increases the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (i.e., federal matching rate) for HCBS in states that develop plans and meet specified benchmarks for improvements.

The bill also makes permanent (1) the Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration Program (a grant program to help states increase the use of HCBS for long-term care and decrease the use of institutional care), and (2) certain provisions regarding Medicaid eligibility that protect against spousal impoverishment for recipients of HCBS.

Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedA bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to expand access to home and community-based services (HCBS) under Medicaid, and for other purposes.

Policy Areas
Health

Potential Impact
Congressional oversight
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health information and medical records
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
Home and outpatient care
Intergovernmental relations
Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Marriage and family status
Medicaid
Performance measurement
State and local finance
State and local government operations

Comments

Recent Activity

Latest Summary9/1/2021

Better Care Better Jobs Act

This bill establishes programs and provides funds for state Medicaid programs to improve home- and community-based services (HCBS), such as home health care, personal care, case management, and rehabilita...


Latest Action6/24/2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.